I love all kinds of shopping; I'm completely nondiscriminatory. I love online shopping, outlets, malls, you name it. I like to consider myself a seasoned, veteran shopper. I know a lot of helpful shopping tips that I use to justify my purchases. Sick, I know.
Today is a special kind of day that is unlike many others. Today, friends, is Package Day. I'm sure the rest of you feel similarly, but I feel that getting a package in the mail or delivered right to your door is a fantastic feeling. To me, it doesn't matter if it's a $5 pair of earrings from eBay or a big order from J. Crew or a care package from my mom, I love them and they make me feel good. Today's package comes from the mecca of inexpensive fashion: Forever 21. Most everybody acknowledges that if there's anything in particular, clothes- or accessory-wise, Forever 21 most likely has it. My mom likes to refer to it as "disposable clothing," because "how long do you expect a $3 tank top to last you?" I won't lie and say nothing I've ever bought from there has ever ripped or developed a hole early on, but that used to frequently happen to me during my Abercrombie and Fitch-obsessed days of high school. At least now the piece of clothing that's falling apart isn't an overpriced $50 t-shirt, am I right? Nevertheless, I've been a pretty devoted shopper at Forever 21 for years now and for good reason. The selection is unbelievable and their organized online site is at times temptingly convenient in comparison to spending hours trying to find things in the store.
Because I go to school in Florida, I spend much of my year in ever-changing weather that most of my friends back home in Maryland or in other places north of Florida don't encounter. Currently, my hometown is being blessed with an ice storm, while I enjoyed a sunny 72-degree day. With weather like that in January, it's hard not to have summer on the brain. With that in mind and anticipating my summer vacation and freedom from school, I made some purchases that will serve me well in the upcoming months.
What I Bought:
- 4 beaded necklaces- two in turquoise, one coral and one yellow- $6
- These are great to wear alone or to twist up and layer. They can also be worn as bracelets and add a lot of easy color to an outfit. They were only $1.50 each too, who can turn that down!?
- A cheetah-print sports bra- $3.80
- Like many, a New Year's resolution of mine is to go to the gym more often. Something tells me that having a little animal print poking out of my sweaty t-shirt will give me the motivation I need to work out harder.
- Ruched Placket Jersey Cardigan, in light pink- $11.80
- I've recently developed a new-found appreciation (read: obsession) with cardigans and have spent the recent colder months building my collection. This one is super flattering with the ruching and the jersey material is really cute. Also, I didn't have a light pink cardigan. Now I do.
- Solid Maxi Dress, in black- $10.80
- I am a HUGE fan of the maxi dress. I'm average height (5'6" on a good day) yet I give off the impression of being much shorter (thank you short legs). Maxi dresses make me look longer and leaner and are just FUN to wear. I always feel pretty and breezy when I wear them and in a solid black, it can easily be dressed up or down.
- Gathered Floral Skirt- $13.80
- Nothing says spring like a floral skirt and I thought this one was particularly cute. It reminded me of the one Fashionista Nicole Ritchie was wearing on the cover of February's issue of Lucky- a brightly colored, high-waisted skirt with a string-tie belt, which I loooved. I'm looking forward to wearing it with a bright top and my M.I.A. blue suede and cork wedges.
- Mini Clip Set- $2.50
- I'm constantly losing hair clips and these are a nice medium size and came in an arrangement of cute colors. Good buy!
- Beaded Hoop Earrings- $1.50
- Forever 21 has recently been selling loads of adorable earrings for under $2, a bargain in the world of bargains. These are gold wire hoops with blue crystal and pearly beads. Big earrings can really complement a dressy outfit or add a little bit of fun to a t-shirt and jeans.
So there you have it: my recent purchases! Luckily for all of us online aficionados, Forever 21 recently lowered its minimum for free standard shipping from $75 to a more reasonable $50. Also, you'll notice that a free magazine subscription is included with a purchase of a certain amount. In many cases, I already have subscriptions to these magazines. If you click the "more info" text, it will give you information for a mail-in rebate offer for $10. The way I see it, you get free shipping and then a surprise $10 check in the mail several months later. You can save it, or, of course, go shopping.
